Folding device for wheelchair

ABSTRACT

A folding device for a wheelchair includes two pivot frames, two support frames, and multiple screw members. The two pivot frames are pivotally mounted between the two support frames, and are pivotally connected with each other. Each of the two pivot frames is foldable. Thus, the wheelchair may have the smallest volume after being folded, thereby facilitating storage and transportation of the wheelchair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a folding device for awheelchair, and more particularly to a folding device for a wheelchairthat may have the smallest volume after being folded, therebyfacilitating storage and transportation of the wheelchair.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional folding device for a wheelchair in accordance withthe prior art shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a first pivot frame 10, asecond pivot frame 20, a first support frame 30, and a second supportframe 40. The second pivot frame 20 is pivotally connected with thefirst pivot frame 10. The first pivot frame 10 has a bottom providedwith a mounting portion 11 pivotally mounted on a bottom rod 41 of thesecond support frame 40. The second pivot frame 20 has a bottom providedwith a mounting portion 21 pivotally mounted on a bottom rod 31 of thefirst support frame 30. The first support frame 30 has a top endprovided with multiple resting blocks 32, and the top of the first pivotframe 10 is rested on the resting blocks 32 of the first support frame30. The second support frame 40 has a top end provided with multipleresting blocks 42, and the top of the second pivot frame 20 is rested onthe resting blocks 42 of the second support frame 40.

[0005] In assembly, the top of the first pivot frame 10 is rested on theresting blocks 32 of the first support frame 30, and the top of thesecond pivot frame 20 is rested on the resting blocks 42 of the secondsupport frame 40, thereby forming the structure of the wheelchair asshown in FIG. 2.

[0006] In folding the wheelchair, the second support frame 40 may bemoved toward the first support frame 30, so that the second pivot frame20 may be pivoted with the first pivot frame 10, thereby folding thewheelchair as shown in FIG. 3.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 4, the smallest height of the folded wheelchairis the height of the folded second pivot frame 20 or the folded firstpivot frame 10. However, the height of the second pivot frame 20 and thefirst pivot frame 10 is fixed and cannot be adjusted, so that the foldedwheelchair will occupy a larger space, thereby causing inconvenience instorage and transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate thedisadvantage of the conventional folding device for a wheelchair.

[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide afolding device for a wheelchair that may have the smallest volume afterbeing folded, thereby facilitating storage and transportation of thewheelchair.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided afolding device for a wheelchair, comprising two pivot frames, twosupport frames, and multiple screw members, wherein:

[0011] the two pivot frames are pivotally mounted between the twosupport frames, and are pivotally connected with each other, and each ofthe two pivot frames is foldable.

[0012] Preferably, each of the two pivot frames includes a first supportbar, a second support bar, and a third support bar, wherein:

[0013] the first support bar of each of the two pivot frames has anupper section provided with an engaging portion;

[0014] the third support bar of each of the two pivot frames has a lowersection provided with an engaging portion; and

[0015] the second support bar of each of the two pivot frames isprovided with an engaging portion engaged with the engaging portion ofthe first support bar and the engaging portion of the third support bar.

[0016] Preferably, the engaging portion of the first support bar of eachof the two pivot frames is formed with a through hole, the engagingportion of the third support bar of each of the two pivot frames isformed with a through hole, the second support bar of each of the twopivot frames has an upper end formed with a through hole aligning withthe through hole of the third support bar for passage of a screw member,so that the upper end of the second support bar may be pivotally mountedon the third support bar, and the second support bar of each of the twopivot frames has a lower end formed with a through hole aligning withthe through hole of the first support bar for passage of a screw member,so that the lower end of the second support bar may be pivotally mountedon the first support bar.

[0017] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional foldingdevice for a wheelchair in accordance with the prior art;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the conventional foldingdevice for a wheelchair as shown in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a folding view of the conventional folding device for awheelchair as shown in FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the conventional folding device fora wheelchair as shown in FIG. 3;

[0022]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pivot frame of afolding device for a wheelchair in accordance with a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective assembly view of the pivot frame of thefolding device for a wheelchair as shown in FIG. 5;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a partially perspective view of the folding device for awheelchair in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the folding device for awheelchair in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0026]FIG. 9 is a folded view of the folding device for a wheelchair asshown in FIG. 8; and

[0027]FIG. 10 is a partially perspective view of a folding device for awheelchair in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 5-8, a foldingdevice for a wheelchair in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention comprises a first pivot frame 50, a second pivot frame60, a first support frame 70, a second support frame 80, and multiplescrew members 90.

[0029] The first support frame 70 is provided with a top rod 71 and abottom rod 72. The second support frame 80 is the same as the firstsupport frame 70, and is provided with a top rod 81 and a bottom rod 82.

[0030] The first pivot frame 50 is pivotally connected with the secondpivot frame 60.

[0031] The first pivot frame 50 includes a first support bar 50A, asecond support bar 51, and a third support bar 52.

[0032] The first support bar 50A is substantially T-shaped, and has alower section provided with a lower mounting portion 503 pivotallymounted on the bottom rod 82 of the second support frame 80, and has anupper section provided with an engaging portion 501. The engagingportion 501 of the first support bar 50A may be in the form of multipleteeth, and is formed with a through hole 502.

[0033] The third support bar 52 is substantially T-shaped, and has anupper section provided with an upper mounting portion 523 pivotallymounted on the top rod 71 of the first support frame 70, and has a lowersection provided with an engaging portion 521. The engaging portion 521of the third support bar 52 may be in the form of multiple teeth, and isformed with a through hole 522.

[0034] The second support bar 51 is provided with an engaging portion511 engaged with the engaging portion 501 of the first support bar 50Aand the engaging portion 521 of the third support bar 52. The engagingportion 511 of the second support bar 51 may be in the form of multipleteeth. The second support bar 51 has an upper end formed with a throughhole 512 aligning with the through hole 522 of the third support bar 52for passage of a screw member 90, so that the upper end of the secondsupport bar 51 may be pivotally mounted on the third support bar 52. Thesecond support bar 51 has a lower end formed with a through hole 514aligning with the through hole 502 of the first support bar 50A forpassage of a screw member 91, so that the lower end of the secondsupport bar 51 may be pivotally mounted on the first support bar 50A.

[0035] The second pivot frame 60 is the same as the first pivot frame50, and includes a first support bar 60A, a second support bar 61, and athird support bar 62.

[0036] The first support bar 60A is substantially T-shaped, and has alower section provided with a lower mounting portion 603 pivotallymounted on the bottom rod 72 of the first support frame 70, and has anupper section provided with an engaging portion 601. The engagingportion 601 of the first support bar 60A may be in the form of multipleteeth, and is formed with a through hole 602.

[0037] The third support bar 62 is substantially T-shaped, and has anupper section provided with an upper mounting portion 623 pivotallymounted on the top rod 81 of the second support frame 80, and has alower section provided with an engaging portion 621. The engagingportion 621 of the third support bar 62 may be in the form of multipleteeth, and is formed with a through hole 622.

[0038] The second support bar 61 is provided with an engaging portion611 engaged with the engaging portion 601 of the first support bar 60Aand the engaging portion 621 of the third support bar 62. The engagingportion 611 of the second support bar 61 may be in the form of multipleteeth. The second support bar 61 has an upper end formed with a throughhole 612 aligning with the through hole 622 of the third support bar 62for passage of a screw member 90, so that the upper end of the secondsupport bar 61 may be pivotally mounted on the third support bar 62. Thesecond support bar 61 has a lower end formed with a through hole 614aligning with the through hole 602 of the first support bar 60A forpassage of a screw member 91, so that the lower end of the secondsupport bar 61 may be pivotally mounted on the first support bar 60A.

[0039] In assembly, the screw members 90 and 91 may be locked tightly,so that the engaging portion 511 of the second support bar 51 may besecurely engaged with the engaging portion 501 of the first support bar50A and the engaging portion 521 of the third support bar 52 to form anintegral support structure, and the engaging portion 611 of the secondsupport bar 61 may be securely engaged with the engaging portion 601 ofthe first support bar 60A and the engaging portion 621 of the thirdsupport bar 62 to form an integral support structure. Thus, the firstpivot frame 50 and the second pivot frame 60 may form an integralsupport structure between the first support frame 70 and the secondsupport frame 80 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0040] When the wheelchair is folded, the screw members 90 and 91 may beunscrewed, so that the engaging portion 511 of the second support bar 51may be disengaged from the engaging portion 501 of the first support bar50A and the engaging portion 521 of the third support bar 52 to form afoldable structure, and the engaging portion 611 of the second supportbar 61 may be disengaged from the engaging portion 601 of the firstsupport bar 60A and the engaging portion 621 of the third support bar 62to form a foldable structure. Thus, the first support bar 50A, thesecond support bar 51 and the third support bar 52 of the first pivotframe 50 may be pivoted with each other to fold the first pivot frame50, while the first support bar 60A, the second support bar 61 and thethird support bar 62 of the second pivot frame 60 may be pivoted witheach other to fold the second pivot frame 60. Then, the first supportframe 70 may be moved toward the second support frame 80, therebyfolding the wheelchair as shown in FIG. 9.

[0041] Thus, the first support bar 50A, the second support bar 51 andthe third support bar 52 of the first pivot frame 50 may be pivoted witheach other during the folding process, while the first support bar 60A,the second support bar 61 and the third support bar 62 of the secondpivot frame 60 may be pivoted with each other during the foldingprocess, so that the first pivot frame 50 and the second pivot frame 60may be folded during the folding process of the wheelchair.

[0042] Accordingly, the wheelchair may have the smallest volume afterbeing folded as shown in FIG. 9, thereby facilitating storage andtransportation of the wheelchair.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 10, a folding device for a wheelchair inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.The first support frame 70 is provided with a transverse rod 73 forsupporting the first pivot frame 50. In addition, the second supportframe (not shown) is also provided with a transverse rod (not shown) forsupporting the second pivot frame (not shown).

[0044] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood thatmany other possible modifications and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore,contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover suchmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding device for a wheelchair, comprising twopivot frames, two support frames, and multiple screw members, wherein:the two pivot frames are pivotally mounted between the two supportframes, and are pivotally connected with each other, and each of the twopivot frames is foldable.
 2. The folding device for a wheelchair inaccordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two pivot frames includes afirst support bar, a second support bar, and a third support bar,wherein: the first support bar of each of the two pivot frames has anupper section provided with an engaging portion; the third support barof each of the two pivot frames has a lower section provided with anengaging portion; and the second support bar of each of the two pivotframes is provided with an engaging portion engaged with the engagingportion of the first support bar and the engaging portion of the thirdsupport bar.
 3. The folding device for a wheelchair in accordance withclaim 2, wherein the first support bar and the third support bar of eachof the two pivot frames are substantially T-shaped.
 4. The foldingdevice for a wheelchair in accordance with claim 2, wherein the firstsupport bar of each of the two pivot frames has a lower section providedwith a lower mounting portion pivotally mounted on a bottom rod of eachof the two support frames.
 5. The folding device for a wheelchair inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the third support bar of each of thetwo pivot frames has an upper section provided with an upper mountingportion pivotally mounted on a top rod of each of the two supportframes.
 6. The folding device for a wheelchair in accordance with claim2, wherein the engaging portion of the first support bar of each of thetwo pivot frames is formed with a through hole, the engaging portion ofthe third support bar of each of the two pivot frames is formed with athrough hole, the second support bar of each of the two pivot frames hasan upper end formed with a through hole aligning with the through holeof the third support bar for passage of a screw member, so that theupper end of the second support bar may be pivotally mounted on thethird support bar, and the second support bar of each of the two pivotframes has a lower end formed with a through hole aligning with thethrough hole of the first support bar for passage of a screw member, sothat the lower end of the second support bar may be pivotally mounted onthe first support bar.